A/N: I realize it has been entirely way too long, and for that I apologize. My muse abandoned ship, and it's taken quite a while to get my inspiration back. My heart aches for Morcia stories, so I thought I'd continue to put some out there. For those still reading, thank you!

Emily tried to be supportive of Pen after her talk with her, but she was being too stubborn for her own good. Instead, she decided to take matters into her own hands and work with Derek instead. Thankfully Hotch let the pair leave, so Emily drove to Derek's and they picked up Clooney. After their walk, she took Derek directly to Penelope's apartment. After much discussion – and stubbornness on his part – she convinced him to go talk to his Baby Girl.

After the walk, Derek felt confident that he had a new plan, and a new resolve. Instead of wallowing and worrying and fighting what his heart – and his gut were screaming at him, he was going to swallow his doubts and take the chance. Deep down, he knew she felt the same for him. She had to.

As he approached the door, he heard Penelope talking inside. He pressed his ear up to the door, so he could hear better.

"JJ, I did it at work today, and it's p- what am I going to do?" he perked up, curious. Could she be talking about- "This changes everything!" she cried. "I can't tell him."

Not waiting any longer, he gathered the courage to knock on the door.

"Who is it?" she asked, her voice shaking.

"It's me."

"Oh my- JJ, he's HERE! What do I do?" she whispered, though loud enough for him to hear.

"Open the door, Baby Girl…" he pleaded.

"He wants me to-"

"I want a lot of things. Hang up with JJ and come let me in. Please." Even though it was through the door, she could hear the pain in his voice. It froze her in place.

He stood there for a minute, but the door didn't open so he pushed on. "I don't know what to say, or what to do to make you believe that I want everything. I-I've never been here with anyone, and it scares me! But I know that together we can do anything, I know my heart is safe with you. Despite everything that happened in my life you are my constant. I know you love me, deep down inside, I know you'll call me on my shit and keep me on my toes… Please, Penelope, open the door…"

And she did. Without giving him a chance to keep talking, she started up before he even stepped inside. "You sounded so unsure when you asked me about having a baby without getting married," she mumbled, looking away.

"That's only because I don't want to pressure you. I know how you feel about marriage, I just wanted to make sure you really wanted this." He lifted her chin and encouraged her to face him. "You know I'll give you anything you want, if you'll only have me."

He sounded so unsure in that last sentence. She finally looked up at him and saw the look of defeat on his face. As she took a moment to observe him, the last few months clicked for her. She really screwed up! He wasn't holding back at all, she was. The tears that welled up in her eyes started to fall, she felt sick with guilt. "Oh, Hot Stuff!" she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly. Held her back just as tight and didn't want to ever let go.

With one arm still holding her, he pulled the ring box out of his pocket. "Baby Girl, I want to be with you forever. Please let me be your husband?"

She pulled away from him and backed into her apartment. Her eyes darted everywhere but at him, or the ring in his hand. "Derek, there's something you need to know first."

He sighed, his proposal once again interrupted. "Yes, I need to know if you want to marry me."

"Wait, I need to tell you something. When I do, you can think about if you still want to… ask me…"

He closed the box and put it in his pocket. He didn't want her to see how badly his hand was shaking. He walked towards her after closing her front door, and they sat on the couch. "What's wrong? Why would I not w-"

She didn't wait to let him finish, instead she got up and started pacing the room. "I am total freaking out, Derek… I had no idea, and I know it's not what you might want, but it happened, and we have to…" she choked on a sob.

"Breathe, sweetheart… come, sit." He pat the couch beside her. When she continued to pace, he got up and went over to her, taking her hands in his. "Penelope, what is it?"

"I think I'm pregnant."

"You're… Wait, you think…?"

"No, I am. Prentiss and JJ got me a test because they suspected I might be, and… Derek, say something."

He was staring off toward the floor, his eyes fixed on one spot. "We're going to have a baby?" he asked, finally looking into her eyes.

"Yes. Derek, say something else. Are you upset?"

"Is… is it weird that I'm kinda bummed that JJ and Prentiss knew before I did?" he asked, bashfully.

"Oh, Derek…" her lip quivered, but before the tears could fall he kissed her, letting his emotions flow through the kiss.

"Baby Girl, I'm so… This is the best day of my life! I'm so happy, thank you…" his voice thick with emotion, he pulled her into a tight hug. "I love you so much."

"I love you too" she sighed, resting her head on his shoulder, into that spot made just for her.

"So I will pull this out for the third time."

"Third?"

He released her from his embrace, and sighed. "Yes, you took off at the restaurant before I could ask. I had it all planned out…" He pulled his phone out and scrolled through some messages. When he found what he was looking for, he passed the phone to her. She looked down, and saw the texts were to his mom. There was a picture of a champagne flute, and a ring tied to the stem. She never noticed it at the restaurant… then she read the messages underneath.

"It's all set up, momma!"

"Good luck, Baby Boy! Let me know as soon as you can! Xoxoxo"

"Momma she left."

Penelope looked up, overwhelmed with grief. "Derek, I'm so, so sorry…"

"AND I tried asking you a few minutes ago."

"You needed to know everything first."

"Baby Girl, please. Like I would ever doubt wanting to be with you the rest of my life? Having a baby is just adding to perfection. Now quit your pouting, woman!"

"We are perfect, aren't we?"

"Complicatedly perfect, I think!" he winked, but continued, dropping to one knee in front of her. "Penelope, Baby Girl, my solace, will you marry me?"

She blinked away tears and nodded just before launching herself into his arms. "YES!"

"Finally."

"Finally?"

"Yes. To our happily ever after."

"Third time's a charm?"

"Something like that," he grinned, unable to resist kissing her again.

"I think you should let your mom know this story finally has a happy ending."

"Huh?" he asked, still too caught up in the moment to think straight.

She giggled and grabbed his phone, opening the camera. She pressed her face to his and held her hand up to show the ring. "To happy endings, Hot Stuff!" she grinned as he followed suit, and she took the picture. When she finished, she typed a quick message. Looking over, Derek read what she wrote.

"Momma she said yes!" and she hit send. Just when they were about to resume their kiss, his phone rang.

"That took three seconds longer than I expected," Derek observed, and Penelope laughed, taking the moment to finally admired her ring.

A/N#2: Please drop a line, I appreciate your feedback! There's one more chapter to this, an epilogue. Stay tuned!